Abu Dhabi: Two more suspects of ‘Night Rats’ gang caught

Abu Dhabi: Two more men suspected of belonging to the ‘Night Rats’ gang which allegedly stole cash and other valuables from five industrial area companies have been captured, according to Abu Dhabi Police.

Last week the police caught the first five suspected members of the all-Pakistani group which reportedly stole items worth Dh1.8 million from transport and contracting companies located in Abu Dhabi’s Musaffah and Al Maqta industrial areas.

Truck driver, E.A., 26, and Sh.B., 22, who works as a light vehicle driver have confessed to their involvement in the crimes which are believed to have taken place over the past two months, according to police.

Investigations revealed that the gang had a long list of companies which they were planning on targeting in the future. Meanwhile, Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, said that the seven accused had been selling the brass and diesel items to companies which they later robbed back from them.

The suspected gang members are reported to have detained company security guards by luring them outside of the premises then tying them up using ropes, stealing their keys and locking them in a room.

Up to 11 guards and company employees have been robbed, assaulted, coerced and threatened using the bladed weapons which the group allegedly carried, police said. Meanwhile, other members would disconnect surveillance cameras.

The suspects reportedly alternated between two vehicles, a saloon and a pick-up truck which they used depending on the items they planned on stealing on the day, police officials said in an earlier statement.

Col Dr Borshid said lack of training for many of the security guards who were on duty helped to make the work easier for the alleged criminals.

He also urged company owners to hire trained security guards and not to trust them with sensitive information regarding the whereabouts of valuable items.